A former prostitute who suffered a horrific attack as her life descended into a spiral of drugs and crime has been spared jail by a judge.

Jane Tait, 30, was arrested after an early morning swoop on a Middlesbrough "crack house", a court heard.

She was given a three year community rehabilitation order after admitting allowing the Laurel Street premises, where she was a tenant, to be used for the supply of crack cocaine between February 18 and March 19.

Police found 22 rocks of crack cocaine, totalling 2.69g, almost £140 cash, clingfilm, foil and a set of scales, said prosecutor Paul Newcombe.

Tait, now of Guisborough, told police two people sold drugs from the house, passing the goods through the letterbox in exchange for £10 notes.

Peter Walsh, defending, said she started working as a prostitute for financial reward but began to take drugs to "fortify herself", and her need for money grew beyond mere avarice to feed her habit.

She then endured an assault from a man who tied her hands and stabbed her with a screwdriver. She threw herself through a car window to escape, and her fingers were disfigured.

The attacker was jailed for 14 years by Judge Peter Fox QC, said Mr Walsh.

He added she had been clean of drugs for some time.

Judge Guy Whitburn QC said: "I accept that, for the time being, you have retired from the profession you have been active in for the last 15 years. If you can keep off drugs, you can lead a useful life."